ROCHELLE — Decorated World War II U.S. Army veteran Bert Cote of Rochelle passed away last month at the age of 102. 

Cote served with the United States Army, 2nd Armored Division, famously known as “Hell on Wheels”, from 1941-1945. He served in Germany under General Patton and was part of a mortar squad. His nine brothers also served in various other branches of the service. After the war, Cote stayed behind to help get people back into their homes because he spoke French due to his French Canadian upbringing.

“All the displaced French families, he put them on a train and told people where to take them,” Cote’s daughter, Jeannine Harms, said. “I was proud of him. We're a service family and a Gold Star family. We live for veterans. He was wonderful.”

Cote was honored locally and nationally as a veteran over the years including with an Honor Flight to Washington D.C., with a Quilt of Valor, and with a cane from Free Canes for Veterans.

“He was so honored,” Harms said. “He was in the paper what seemed like every other week. People thanked him and liked to listen to him play the harmonica. He was overwhelmed that people would show that much love and support for him for what he did. We went to Midway Village in October for a reenactment when he was 102. He jumped right up in the truck like he was 18. They got him in a uniform. He was the only WWII veteran there and they rolled out the red carpet for him. He just loved that. Everybody saluted him. He didn't even act tired at the end of the day and he wanted to do it again. He had tears in his eyes to be able to do that. He shared his time and his story with so many people.”

Cote, who grew up with 16 siblings, was known for his harmonica playing and also enjoyed woodworking and playing horseshoes. He was a plumber for Local 23 Pipefitters and Plumbers and was in charge of running the warehouse at the Byron Nuclear Plant for many years.

“He was an outstanding person,” Harms said. “They don't make them like him anymore. He held the door for ladies. Everyone called him ‘Uncle Bert.’ I miss being with him and asking him to play a song on his harmonica.”

Cote was among the first American troops that went into Berlin during WWII. He was three years old when he and his family moved to Rochelle from Quebec, Canada. He lived in Rochelle for 99 years.

Harms said she wasn’t surprised to see her father live as long as he did, and that he had other siblings reach that age. 

“I loved having so much time with him,” Harms said. “During COVID-19, I cooked him meals at home. And then we'd get in the car three times a day and drive around real slow so he could wave at people. We always did stuff with our family every day. We'd go visit someone or go for a ride. We didn't sit in the house. I had to tell my dad to slow down right up until he passed. As soon as he saw you and you asked him to play a song, he'd start right then and there. He played for people's birthdays. He was always reaching out to people and sharing.”

Honoring Our American Hero is a series that will print twice a month in the News-Leader. If you know an American Hero you would like to have featured, contact Jeff Helfrich at jhelfrich@rochellenews-leader.com or call 815-561-2151.